Opening device



R. D. FRANS OPENING DEVICE Aug. 25, 1959 Filed Jan. 29, 1959 INVENTOR. ROBERT D. FRANS 2,900,716 oPENlNG DEVICE Robert D. Frans, West Allis, Wis.

Application January 29, 1959, Serial No. 789,858

7 Claims. (Cl. 30-16) This invention relates generally to utensils and more specifically to opening devices of the type particularly adapted for puncturing pressurized fluid containers 1n the process of consuming the contents thereof.

Prior art opening devices of the type described have generally been attended by the problems arising from the unrestricted escape of gases and liquids [from withln the pressurized iiuid containers upon puncture by the device. The escaping fluids frequently emit as a spray which soils all it can reach including household furnishings, clothing, or the like, and is still further vexatious when sugar based liquids are involved. The present invention solves this problem of unrestricted fluid spraying by a novel and unique opener structure which includes means for puncturing pressurided fluid containers coacting with additional means for capturing all the escaping fluids, for restraining the fluids which separate the gaseous and liquid phases thereof, and for dispelling both the gases and the liquids in an innocuous condition.4

Accordingly, it is a prime object of the present invention to provide an improved opening device for opening containers of pressurized liquids such, for example, as beer and like liquids, which are under pressure and which consequently ordinarily force some of the liquid out Iwith outwardly flowing and expanding gas when the can is punctured, which device is characterized by means for capturing and rendering innocuous the escaping ases.

g Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved opening device of the type described in which self contained reservoir means are in complete communication 'with and control the ow of the escaping gases and liquids from the opening as it is punctured, thereby eliminating uncontrolled spraying of the iiuids and the consequent soiling of clothing, Walls, and the like.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved opening device of the type described in which means for penetrating into and puncturing the pressurized fluid container follow into the hole thus created to prevent the escape of fluids externally of the means and direct the flow of the iiuids up into the device where additional means separate the liquids from the gases contained thereby and render them innocuous for subsequent disposal.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved opening device orf the type described in which gas permeable liquid absorbent valve means are removably disposed internally thereof for selectively abl sorbing the liquid phase and passing the gaseous phase of escaping iluids passing therethrough.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an irnproved can opener bearing the above objects in mind which is of 'unique construction, has only a necessary number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and eficient in operation.

These and still other objects as shall hereinafter appear are readily fuliilled by the present invention in a States Patent C manner easily discerned from the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments of my invention, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an opening device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partially in section of the opening device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of an opening device ernbodying the present invention in operative use.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a device for opening sealed pressurized fluid containers eX- emplifying the present invention is generally indicated at 10 and comprises main body portion 12 having a head portion 13 at one end thereof. Head portion 13 includes a bottom 14, a top 15, and a pair of outwardly converging sid'e edges 16 that terminate in a metal piercing surface 17. As is more clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, metal piercing means 17 has port means 18 defined therethrough in communicative relationship with a longitudinal bore 19, which in turn extends centrally through the head 13 into communication with a centr-al chamber 20 dened in and by main body portion 12. At the end of main body portion 12, remote from head portion 13, a removable closure 22 is re movably attached to portion 12 in any suitable mariner such, for example, as the telescopic arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2 although if desired, body portion 12 may be inserted within closure 22 with equally satisfactory results. Closure 22 may partially 'solid or hollow configuration and is provided with port means 21 which establishes communication between chamber 20 and the atnrosphereto expel gases in an innocuous condition as shall be more fully explained.

A rim hook 24 is suitably attached to the outer surface of bottom 13 and coacts with body portion 12 and head portion 13 to deiine a moment arm thereabout for actuating piercing means 17 in a puncturing motion in response to the upward movement of body portion 12. v

In actual use, rim hook 24 is engaged lbeneath the upper rim` 29 of a pressurized uid container such, forY example, as beverage can 30, and main body portion 12 is rotated so as to drive piercing meansI 17 into penetrating engagement with the top of the can. As pierc- `ing means 17 penetrates the top of the can, the pressurized lgas and liquid within the can will pass outwardly and since their external escape is blocked by the coaction of bottom 14, top 15 and edges 16, with the hole thus produced, the fluids can only pass through port 18, :into longitudinal bore 19 in the head 13 and Ythence in the chamber 20 in the main body portiori.

Valve means in the form of a cellular member 23 are` removably secured within any part of` the chamber 2i) between head portion 13 and closure 22, and preferably in a part of the closure 22 and is `formed of a suitable gas permeable, liquid absorbent material such, for example, as natural and synthetic Sponges, plastic foams land the like. Member 23 functions as a valve means to permit the outward passage of gas, -while effectively blocking the passage of liquid outwardly toward the closure 22 and through port 21 thereby separating and rendering innocuous the gases and liquids contained in the aforedescribed escaping liuid.

By removing the closure 22 and the sponge block 23, the inside of the device may be periodically cleaned.

It will now be recognized that an opening device has been provided for use with pressurized iiuid containers in which all escaping eifectively directed into a chamber 20 the main be of either a solid,

gases and liquids are harrnlessly and` body portion of the device, from where they are discharged in an innocuous state thereby preventing spraying and spilling of the contents, and soiling of clothes, or the like. v

It is, of course, understood that the embodiment herein described and illustrated is exemplary only and such modification, and applications and changes in the details of this structure as will readily occur are intended Within the spirit and scope of the present invention especially as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An opening device comprising a main body portion defining a central chamber, a head at one end of said main body portion, piercing means carried by said head for puncturing pressurized fluid containers, a longitudinal bore extending through said head in communication with said chamber, port means defined in said piercing means in communication with said bore, and valve means within said chamber accommodating therethrough the gas and liquid 4from the containers, said gas being permitted to pass therethrough while said liquid is blocked thereby.

2. An opening device comprising a main body portion having a central chamber defined therein, a head portion at one end of said main body portion, piercing means carried by said head portion for puncturing pressurized fluid containers and having port means defined therein, a longitudinal bore extending through said head in communicative relationship between said port means and said chamber, valve means operatively disposed within said chamber for accommodating the passage of gas and blocking the flow of liquid therethrough, and removable vented closure means slidably supported upon the end of said main body portion, remote from said head portion, said valve means being intermediate said head portion and said closure means.

3. An opening device comprising a main body portion having a central chamber defined therein, a head portion disposed at one end of said main body portion, piercing means carried by said head for puncturing pressurized liuid containers, a longitudinal bore extending through said head in communication with said chamber, a port associated with said piercing means communicating with said bore, valve means within said chamber accommodating the passage of gas and blocking the flow of liquid therethrough, and removable vented closure means slidably supported upon the opposite end of said main body portion, said valve means being intermediate said head and said closure, said piercing means including a pair of outwardly converging cutting edges at opposite sides of said head portion defining a sharp surface.

4. An opening device comprising a main body portion having a central chamber defined therein, a head portion at one end of said main body portion, said head portion having a top, a bottom and a pair of outwardly converging cutting edges at opposite sides thereof defining a cutting surface for puncturing a hole in pressurized Huid containers, said cutting surface having port means defined therein adapted to engage the hole substantially in register therewith, a longitudinal bore extending through said head in communication with said port means and said chamber, valve means operatively disposed within said chamber accommodating the passage of gas and blocking the flow of liquid therethrough, and removable vented closure means slidably supported upon the opposite end of said main body portion.

5. An opening device comprising a main body portion defining a central chamber, piercing means at one end of said main body portion for puncturing a pressurized fiuid container, a longitudinal bore extending between said piercing means and said chamber, valve means operatively disposed within said chamber accommodating the passage of gas and blocking the flow of liquid therethrough, and removable vented closure means slidably supported upon the opposite end of said main body portion for receiving said gas from said valve means and expelling it to the atmosphere.

6. An opening device for puncturing pressurized fluid containers comprising a hollow body portion having first and second ends defining a chamber therewith, piercing means extending outwardly at said first end and having a passageway defined therethrough in communication with said chamber, said piercing means having a pair of outwardly converging cutting edges at opposite sides thereof defining a cutting surface, said cutting surface including' a port communicating with said passageway, vented closure means telescopically arranged with said second end, and cellular valve means removably secured across the interior of said chamber intermediate said piercing means and said closure means.

7. An opening device for puncturing pressurized fluid containers comprising a body portion, a head portion, a closure portion, and Valve means, said head portion extending outwardly from said body portion and having a top, a bottom, a pair of outwardly converging sides coacting to define a sharp metal cutting surface having a port centrally defined therein, and a longitudinally extending bore in register with said port, said body portion having a central chamber defined therein in communication with said bore, said closure member extending outwardly from said body portion oppositely of said head portion and having a vent defined therein permitting the passage of gases from said chamber to the atmosphere, said valve means being removably secured across the interior of said chamber and formed of a gas permeable, liquid absorbent cellular material.

No references cited. 

